Relationship between QSM, R2*, and a polygenic risk score for unusual and psychotic experiences

Motivation: Psychosis has been studied from different perspectives, including genetic factors and dopamine dysfunction. However, those perspectives have been studied independently. Goal(s): To investigate the relationship between genetic factors (i.e., Polygenic Risk Score, PSR) and magnetic tissue properties associated with dopamine (QSM, R2*) in a cohort of individuals with psychotic experiences. Approach: Analyze the potential correlations among QSM, R2* and PRS scores using linear mixed models in a cohort of patients and controls obtained from the UK Biobank. Results: We identified significant predictors for QSM and R2* values with PRS, revealing differences in specific brain regions associated with dopamine pathways. Impact: The changes found in the brain regions associated with dopamine pathways provide further evidence to support that psychosis may be related to a dopamine dysfunction, and those changes may also be related to genetic factors.